Reed-organ



N M o odel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1, W. S. MOSES.

REED ORGAN.

No. 004,070. Patented May 17, 1808.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. S. MOSES.

REED ORGAN. No. 604,070. Patented May 17,1898.

Wmmsss F. 2 MM5/yam? mmm/2v2 (N0 MOdGL) W. S. MOSES. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 REED ORGAN.

No. 604,070. Patented May 17,1808.

F275- 0 mmmrmmm 00000000000 I :D/ ,Lz/z Illalllllalllllilllllll 000000000005 000000000000 i LSLZOS e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. MOSES, OF TRACY, MINNESOTA.

REED-ORGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,070, dated May 17, 1898.

Application flled September 3,1896. Renewed Tune 17J 1897. Serial No. 641,184. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MOSES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tracy, in the county of Lyon and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reed-Organs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to reed-organs, and is designed more particularly as an improvement upon the construction illustrated and described in my application for patent dated November 29, 1895, in which a movable supplemental keyboard is employed for transposing music into different keys. The present invention is designed to accomplish the same purpose by the peculiar construction and arrangement of the part-s, whereby the tone mechanism can be shifted either to the right or the left with relation to the regular keyboard, which contemplates simplifying the mechanism of the organ and obviating the use of the supplemental keyboard.

Theinvention consists in the improved construction of the tone mechanism and in the manner of shifting the same with respect to the regular keyboard. Y

The invention further consists in combining with the two independent sets of reeds certain mechanism by which one set can be thrown out of operative engagement with the tracker-pins of the keyboard.

The invention further consists in improved mechanism for operating` the coupler-boards and in the mechanism for tilting` the supporting-frame of the keyboard to regulate the depression of the tracker-pins; and the invention further consists in the details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a vertical transverse sectional view of a reed-organ constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the organ, the

board at the forward end being removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the set of reeds located at the rear part of the organ. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the pistons of the reed mechanism. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the devices for indicating the adj ustm ent of the tone mechanism with respect to the regular keys. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the mechanism for locking the foot levers or pedals. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective View showing the manner of connectin g one of the operating-levers to the movable tone mechanism.

The organ frame or casing is of any approved construction, the front being suitably ornamented to present a neat and attractive appearance.

Between the side pieces A A. of the organcasing are rigidly secured two longitudinal beams B and B', which support the movable tone mechanism in its normal position, the upper edge of the beam B being rounded to reduce the friction, while the upper edge of the beam B' is provided with a pad o, which, in connection with a pad c on the under side of the lower board of the sounding-chamber, forms an air-tight joint when the tone mechanism is in its normal position resting upon the said longitudinal beams.

The sounding-chamber C, which forms part of the tone mechanism, consists of upper and lower sounding-boards C and Crespectively, connected to each other by end pieces c' and side pieces c2, with intermediate soundingposts c3 properly positioned. At the rear part of the sounding-chamber is a supplemental strip c4, having a slot c5 therein,which registers with a similar slot in the lower soundingboard and with a vertical opening o through the beam B', which leads to the exhaust mechanism, hereinafter described, the slot being provided to insure communication at all times between the air-exhaust mechanism and movable sounding chamber. Upon the upper sounding-board of the sounding-chamber are mounted two sets of reeds.

At the rear part of the organ are longitudinal strips CZ d and an intermediate longitudinal strip d', which are secured upon the sounding-board C and support a diaphragm or supplemental sounding medium cl2, having centrally a longitudinal series of rectan- IOO gular openings which register with a similar series of openings in the strip d', soundingboard C', and reinforcing-strip c, secured to the under side of said sounding-board, forming passage-ways d3 for the purpose hereinafter specified. Uponthe diaphragm is placed a pipe-board D, having a longitudinal series of transverse slots or pipes d4, the center portions of which are on a line with the corresponding series of passage-ways cl3, and upon this pipe-board is mounted a reed-board D', having reed-chambers d5 and d6 at each side, which communicate with the pipes d4 and contain the ordinary reed-plates and tongues, as shown. The reed-board D' is provided centrally with a longitudinal opening divided by plates into a series of vertical rectangular openings C27, which register with the openings d3, but slightly larger than the latter, the division-plates resting upon the diaphragm d2. Within each vertical opening d7 is located a piston E, operated, as hereinafter described, to cut off communication between the pipes d4 and vertical opening d3, which leads to the sounding-chamber C, the lower end of said piston having a pad which, when the piston is lowered to rest upon the diaphragm cl2 and cover the opening d3, will form an air-tight connection at this point.

At the forward part of the organ upon the sounding-board C' is a pipe-board F, similar to the pipe-board D, the pipes f thereof communicating with a series of openings c7 in said sounding-board, and upon this pipe-board is mounted a reed-board F', a second pipe-board F2, and a second reed-board F3. The reedboards F' and F3 are provided centrally with a longitudinal series of openings which register with the central portions of the pipes or transverse slots of the pipe-boards and with the opening c7, said reed-boards also having reed-chambers, which communicate with the pipesff', and vertical openingsfz, formed by the openings in the several parts, the openings j'2 communicating with the soundingcnamber C by way of the corresponding series of openings c7 in the upper soundingboard. Commmnication between the reeds and the sounding-chamber C is closed or cut off by a series of independent valves G,which bear against the under side of' the soundingboard C' and are guided by pins g, said valves being held normally against their seat by spring-rods G', said rods also serving as supports for said valves. The valves G are provided with operating-rods g',whieh are seated in recesses therein and pass up through the openings'c7 and f2 and through a diaphragm or supplemental sounding medium f3, mounted upon the upper reed-board F3, the diaphragm having a reinforcing-strip f" with packings, through which the rods pass, and the upper ends of said rods being provided with enlarged bearing surfaces or heads, for the purpose hereinafter specified.

I-I and II' designate longitudinal beams which are secured to the side pieces A A of the organ-easing, and upon these beams the supporting-frame of the keyboard mechanism rests when in its normal position. rlhis supporting-frame I consists of a horizontal board which is hollowed out centrally in its upper side and is provided with extensions I', which rest upon the beams I'I and II', the beam I-I' being beveled rearward on its upper edge, as shown, to permit said supportingframe to be tilted, as hereinafter described.

The finger-keys J of the instrument are mounted upon the supporting-frame I in the usual manner and engage with tracker-pins I guided by apertures in a horizontal plate I2, said tracker-pins having the usual collars 7.o, with which the wires of the ordinary coupler-boards L engage, and the lower ends of these tracker-pins pass through the supporting-frame I and engage the upper ends of the operating-rods g' of the forward reeds. A plate M is secured to the supporting-frame I and provided with spring-fingers which engage the under side of the collars k to hold the tracker-pins K normally against the under side of the finger-keys J. Near the lower end of each tracker-pin K is secured a collar 7a', and these collars engage the forward ends of a series of levers N, centrally fulcrumed upon a horizontal rock-bar N', hinged at its ends to blocks e8, mounted upon the upper board of the sounding-chamber C. The rear ends of the levers N are provided with projecting pins a, which engage eyes in the piston-rods e of the rear set of reeds, said eyes being preferably provided with bushings.

It will be here noted that the depression of a fingerkey will move the corresponding valve of the forward reeds and elevate the corresponding piston of the reeds at the rear part of the organ, the operation being effected through the intervention of the tracker-pin K and lever N, with which it is in engagement. Now in order to throw the rear reeds out of operation when desired I provide mechanism for this purpose consisting of a lever O, fulerumed at an intermediate point toa bracket or arm Ct, projecting rearward from the upper front board A' of the organ-casing, the lowerend of said lever being connected to the rock-bar N', while the upper end is connected to an operating-rod which extends through the front board A" and has a pull-knob o attached to its forward end. As the rock-bar N' is carried by the movable tone mechanism of the organ, the connection of the lever O therewith is made by a looped wire n', Fig. 7, having a straight portion which plays in a transverse aperture formed in the lower end of said lever, the lower end of the lever being preferably split, as shown, to provide for the ready attachment and detachment of the parts. Vhen the operating-rod O' is pulled upon, it will rock the cross-bar N' backward through the intervention of the lever O and connection n', and the backward movement of said bar will carry the levers N with it, thereby moving said levers out of an IOO IOS

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operative position with respect to the collars 7c of the tracker-pins.

In transposing music into different keys the tone mechanism hereinbefore described is shifted to the right or to the left in contradistinction to moving the supplemental keyboard, as in the application hereinbefore referred to. To accomplish this, the rear part of the tone mechanism is tilted upward to disengage it from the exhaust mechanism and is supported upon friction-rollers. The pedals, connected to the tone mechanism by straps, are then manipulated to make the proper adjustment, certain devices being provided for indicating the adjustment, all of which I shall now proceed to describe.

P designates a horizontal beam which is secured between the side pieces A A of the organcasing, and upon this beam is fulcrumed a board P, the rear edge of which forms a bearing for friction-rollers o9, journaled in brackets secured to the under side of the rear part of the tone mechanism or sounding-board C2, pins p being provided to hold said board against lateral movement. To the forward end of the board P is secured a projecting arm p', to the outer end of which is connected a depending rod p2, which passes through an opening in a foot lever or pedal P2, the lower end of said rod having an adjusting-nut p3, against which the pedal abuts to operate the rod. To the pedal P2 is attached a second rod p4, which extends upward and is connected to one end of a lever p5, fulcrumed on a beam Q, extending across the organ-casing, the rear end of this lever engaging the rear end of a long lever p6, fulcrumed in brackets attached to the beam B and connected to the supporting-frame of the keyboard by a cord or ilexible connection p7, which passes over a guideroller h', having a bearing in the longitudinal beam II. The cord is not connected directly to the supporting-frame I, but to a depending arm c', secured thereto. By the arrangement just described a depression of the pedal P2 will first act upon the lever p6 to tilt the supporting-frame of the keyboard, which will carry the tracker-pins K out of engagement with the valve-rods g and levers N of the tone mechanism, after which the pedal, by engaging the nut p3, will operate the board P' to incline the tone mechanism and support the rear part of the same upon said board by way of the friction-rollers c2. Then the parts are in this position, the tone mechanism can be shifted to the right or to the left by means of pedals R R, which are connected to opposite ends of the sounding-board G2 by belts r, which pass over suitable guide-rollers R'.

It will be understood that the forward part of the tone mechanism slides upon the beam B, and in order to reduce the friction strips c1U are secured to the under side of the sounding-board C2 at each end thereof to rest upon the beam, said strips carryin g lugs or guides c, which lap the sides of the beam and prevent forward or backward movement of the tone mechanism.

In order to hold the pedal P2 depressed and permit the removal of the foot to operate one of the pedals R, I provide said pedal with a sliding plate S, Fig. 6, having lateral projections s, which engage rack-bars s', secured to the inner side of the front board A2, said plate being connected to a spring s2 to insure such engagement and is provided at its forward end with an upward projection S3 to provide means by which the plate can be operated to disengage the said rack-bars. In front of the projection s3 is a cam s4, which can be turned against the projection to hold the sliding plate out of operation when desired.

The proper adjustment of the tone mechanism with respect to the keyboard is indicated or determined by a pointer 15, projecting through a slot a in the front board A3 from a vertical strip T, secured to the forward end of the sounding-chamber C, and in connection with this pointer a removable pin T is used and passed through any one of a series of perforations a2 in the front board to engage either side of the vertical strip T. A scale-plate T2 is secured to the front board A3 above or below the series of holes CL2 to indicate the particular key in which the music will be played.

The bellows or exhaust mechanism of the organ is constructed similar to that shown in my prior application for patent, presenting a stationary board U, swinging board U', folded leather u, and supplemental bellows U2. The supplemental bellows are connected to pedals U3 by cords n', which pass over guide-rollers u2, journaled in brackets depending from the beam Q. The swinging board of the bellows operates a lever U4, which is pivoted to the sounding-chamber C and connected to the valves or mutes of the reed-chambers, as in the aforesaid application, but not shown herein. As the sounding-chamber C is movable, the lower end of the lever Ul plays in a wire loop u2, attached to the swinging board U'.

The coupler-boards Il are tilted into an operative position by a board V, hinged to the beam H and provided at its inner end with threaded pins o, which bear against the under side of said coupler-boards, the board V being engaged by a lever V', and said lever is operated by a 'foot-lever or pedal V2 through the intervention of a long lever o2, short lever es, and connecting-rods o and (See Fig. 2.) The construction and arrangement of the levers o2 and o2 are the same as the con struction and arrangement of the levers p5 and la, which tilt the keyboard-frame, and are shown in the sectional view Fig. l. The pedal V2 is also provided with the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings in order to hold the coupler-boards in an operative position and permit the feet of the operator to be free to pedal the bellows.

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It will be noted that the depression of the pedal P2 to engage the sliding plate with the upper notch in the rack-bars S will slightly tilt the forward part of the supporting-frame of the keyboard upward, and in this position the depression of the finger-keys will not open the valves E and G to their fullest extent, thereby reducing the volume of tone. Should a further modulation of the tone be desired, the reeds at the rear part of the organ can be thrown out of engagement by manipulating the rod O', as hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation of the several parts of myim proved reed-organ will be readilyY understood, and it will be noted that the keyboard is extended a few keys at each side to provide supplemental keys which will act upon the end reeds when the tone mechanism is shifted to the right or to the left.

In further describing the sounding-chamber C it may be said that when the exhaust mechanism is worked there will be a tendency for the sounding-boards to move toward each other, but the'posts e3 so neutralize or connect said boards that they will vibrate in unison, and thus reinforce the tone of the instru ment. lVithout the -posts the suction would overcome the vibration and prevent the tones being reinforced. Both soundingboards vibrate, and thus form what may be termed a compound sounding-board.

Having thus described my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction of the parts herein shown and described, but reserve the right to change or modify such construction within the spirit and scope of my claims.

I claiml. In a musical instrument of the character described, the combination with the exhaust mechanism, of a sounding-chamber movable sidewise and communicating with said exhaust mechanism by way of a slot and opening registering with each other, a transverse series of reeds mounted on the soundingchamber and communicating therewith by valved openings, and headed operating-rods for operating the valves together with a keyboard, having tracker-pins adapted to engage the headed operating-rods immediately below, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination in a reed-organ, of the sounding-chamber having openings in the upper sounding-board thereof, a diaphragm supported a suitable distance above the sounding-board and having a series of openings which communicate with the openings in said sounding-board, a pipe-board having a correspending series of pipes, and a reed-board having reed-chambers which communicate with the pipes and a series of vertical openings on a line with the corresponding openings in the diaphragm; together with pistons located within said vertical openings, and means for operating the pistons from a keyboard, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a reed-organ, the combination, of the tone mechanism movable sidewise, a tilting keyboard adapted to operate the reeds of the tone mechanism; together with a single foot lever or pedal connected to the tone meehanism and keyboard for tilting them in opposite directions, and supplemental means for shifting the tone mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

4t. In a reed-organ, the combination, of the tone mechanism movable sidewise, a tilting keyboard adapted to operate the reeds of the tone mechanism., a foot lever or pedal con nected to the keyboard and to interposed means for tilting the rear part of the tone mechanism, andindependent pedals connected to the ends of the tone mechanism by belts which pass over suitable guide-pulleys, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a reed-organ, the combination with the movable tone mechanism carrying friction-rollers, a tilting board forming a bearing' for the friction-rollers, and an arm secured to said tilting board and connected to a pedal; together with a tilting keyboard connected to said pedal by interposed levers and connections, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a reed-organ, the combination with the movable tone mechanism carrying friction-rollers, a tilting board forming a bearing for the friction-rollers, an arm secured to said tilting board and connected to a depending rod the lower end of which is passed through an opening in a foot-pedal, an adjustable stop attached to the lower end of the rod; together with a tilting keyboard connected to said pedal, and supplemental means for shifting the tone meehanism,substantially as shown and for`tlie purpose set forth.

7. In a reed-organ, the combination with a foot lever or pedal, of a sliding plate mounted thereon and provided with lateral extensions and at its forward end with a toe portion, stationary rack-bars with which the lateral extensions of the plate engage, and a spring for causing such engagement, substantially as shown and described.

S. In a reedbrgan, a device for holding the foot levers or pedals depressed, consisting of a sliding plate mounted on the pedal and provided at its forward end with an upturned portion and at its sides with extensions, rackbars with which said extensions engage, and a spring for causing such engagement; together with a cam located on the pedal to engage the end of the sliding plate, substatitially as shown and for the purpose setiforth.

9. In a reed-organ, the combination with the coupler-boards, of a hinged board, screws IOO IIO

adjustable upon said hinged board and in engagement with said coupler-boards, a centrally-fulcrumed lever one end of which is in contact with said hinged board, and interposed levers and rods connecting the firstmentioned lever to a foot lever or pedal, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a reed-organ, the combination with the two sets of reeds and keyboard having tracker-pins with rigid collars, of levers operating one set of reeds by engaging said collars, a rock-bar upon which the levers are fulcrumed, a lever connected at one end to the rock-bar, and an operating-rod connected to the other end of the lever, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a reed-organ, the combination with the two sets of reeds mounted upon a movable sounding-chamber, of a keyboard having tracker-pins with rigid collars, levers operating one set of reeds by engaging said collars, a rock-bar upon which the levers are fulcrumed, said rock-bar having a looped wire attached thereto; together with a pivoted lever in sliding engagement with the rock-bar, and an operating-rod connected to the opposite end of said lever, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a reed-organ the combination with a movable sounding-chamber or wind-chest and fixed bellows or exhaust mechanism, of connection between the parts and means for disengaging the sounding-chamber from the bellows and means for moving laterally the sounding-chamber substantially as shown an d for the purpose set forth.

18. In a reed-organ the combination with a movable sounding-chamber or wind-chest and a fixed bellows or pumping device, of separable connections between the sounding-charnber and bellows and means for detaching or separating the connections so that the sounding-chamber may be moved laterally substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a reed-organ, the combination with the exhaust mechanism or bellows, of a keyboard both mounted immovably upon the frame of the instrument, of a wind-chest or soundingchamber movable longitudinally with respect to the frame, means for operating the valves or pistons of the soundingchamber carried thereby so as to engage with the keys of the keyboard substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a reed-organ the combination with the exhaust mechanism, of a wind-chest or sounding-chamber movable relative to the exhaust mechanism, of reeds, and valve or piston operating means carried by the soundingchamber; together with a keyboard iixedly mounted upon the frame, s ubstantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a reed-organ, the combination with the exhaust mechanism or bellows, of a windchest or sounding-chamber movable laterally relative to said exhaust mechanism, openings connecting the bellows and sounding-chamber; the openings registering, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a reed-organ the combination of a sounding-board having the tone mechanism mounted thereon and means for moving the same sidewise, a keyboard carried by the frame of the instrument so as to occupy a iixed position, of exhaust mechanism also occupying a xed position with respect to the frame; together with mechanism for shifting the tone mechanism with respect to the keyboard, and the bellows or exhaust mechanism substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a reed-organ, the combination of the tone mechanism movable sidewise, a keyboard occupying a relatively-fixed position with respect to the tone mechanism; together with exhaust mechanism and means for changing the position of the tone mechanism with respect to the keys and exhaust mechanism substantially as shown and for the purpose Set forth.

19. In a reed-organ, a wind-chest movable laterally with respect to a xed keyboard and bellows, said wind-chest having openings in its inclosing boards, valves or pistons operating in conjunction with said openings and connections between the valves or pistons and the keyboard; together with air-passages for establishing communication between the bellows and wind-chest, substantially as shown.

20. In a reed-organ the combination with the keyboard and bellows of a wind-chest or sounding-chamber moving laterally with respect thereto, said wind-chest or soundingchamber having openings in the inclosing boards, valves or pistons therefor, connections with the valves or pistons, and keyboard, and means for connecting the bellows and wind-chest or sounding-chamber substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2l. In a reed-organ or similar instrument, the combination with a wind-chest movable laterally with respect to the keyboard and bellows, of tone mechanism connected with the wind-chest so as to be moved in conjunction with the same, substantially as shown.

22. In a reed-organ or similar instrument, the combination with the keyboard and bellows of ordinary construction, of a wind-chest or sounding-chamber supported so as to be movable laterally with respect to the keyboard and bellows, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

23. In a reed-organ the combination with a movable sounding-chamber and fixed bellows, of connections between said parts and 'means for tilting the sounding-chamber to effect a disengagement of the connections and means substantially as shown for moving` the sounding-chamber when tilted for the purpose set forth.

24.. In a reed-organ the combination with a IIO keyboard, sounding-chamber and bellows of In testimony whereof I ztlx my signature eonneetngmeans, the sounding-chamber bein presence of two witnesses.

ing supported so that it may be raised or tilted and when so moved will dsengage the e011- neetons carried thereby from the keyboard Witnesses: and bellows substantially as shown and for CHAS. XV. MAIN, the purpose set forth. K. A. JONES.

VILLIAM S. MOSES. 

